Lucky mag fall tips: Santa Fe look, hiking boots

It may feel like summer outside, but many stores are showing styles for cooler weather. Here are some tips and trends to help your wardrobe look "clean and fresh for fall," according to Lucky magazine’s style editor, Laurel Pantin.

"One of my personal favorite trends is what we’re calling ‘Santa Fe’ around the office," Pantin said in a telephone interview. "It’s a little bit Southwestern-inspired, with a Native American influence, blanket coats, Pendleton prints."

Look for "blanket skirts with fringe running down the front, and anything natural, handcrafty, folksy." The Lucky editor, herself a Texas native, says "a lot of these things, you can find vintage. I bought a lot of great pieces on eBay."

The trend is turning up in scarves, too, with "knit fringe on the ends, folksy and handcraftsy printed blanket scarves."

* COATS, SWEATERS AND JACKETS

Pantin’s forecast for outerwear trends: woolly coats; shearling; a bit of a " ’70s ski lodge" look, including Fair Isle sweaters; big, oversized cardigans and long "sweater dusters" that are "relaxed and loose and lux and cozy." And here’s a twist on the boyfriend jacket: Make an oversized vest by cutting the sleeves off an oversized, mid-thigh blazer.

* PRINTS AND COLORS

"Baby blue has been everywhere for outerwear," Pantin said. "It’s nice to see lighter colors. Baby blue mixed with black and gray is pretty, clean and bright." Also on the fall palette: "emerald green, which is gorgeous and more of a traditional fall color."

In addition, Pantin said, "black and white never really goes out of style. I’m also excited about plaids, but in a lighter color palette — more white-based plaids, with a softer winter white. And leopard is having a little bit of a moment."

* PANTS

"It’s going to be about straight trouser pants," the Lucky style editor predicted. "Super-skinny is not entirely on its way out, but it’s not the most current look. It’s more about high waist, straight leg or wide leg, plus culottes and gaucho pants. If you were going to get a wide leg, a pair of wool trousers would be a good buy."

* SHAPES

"Clothing shapes are not quite so tight, but a little bit more relaxed," Pantin said. "Mid-calf is still the way to go for skirt length — 3 or 4 inches above the ankle. Also: pencil knit skirts and stretchy fabrics."

* BOOTS AND SHOES

Look for ankle booties and combat boot styles with a "punky vibe," including a short heel and fun colors, Pantin says. The perfect example: a metallic pair from Saint Laurent.

Just as summer sandal trends included thick slides, genuine Tevas and what some fashion-watchers called the "ugly shoe" look, Pantin predicts winter footwear will include the "frumpy boot" and genuine hiking boots.

"Hiking boots are going to be a thing," Pantin predicts. "A solid leather pair of hiking boots is something I’m personally on the hunt for — solid leather, with a ’70s shape, rounded on the front. I like when the trend is something you can buy the authentic version of — when it’s snowy and nasty, and they’re built for that."

As for shoes, flats remain "a big thing," but not the over-the-top flats with straps and zippers from past seasons. This time, it’s "simple ballet flats, dialed down a little bit." Heels, she predicts, will be "simple, classic shoes rather than the insane statement shoe," such as "pumps and things that don’t have a platform and aren’t so crazy-high."